Swiss Start-up Cogitars Honored in Heidelberg

A decrease in the performance capacity of the human heart means an enormous curtailment of the quality of life for many patients. Long-term successful treatment of myocardial insufficiency has not been possible to date, however. The start-up InoCard has developed a new kind of gene therapy which persuaded a jury of international investors at the finale of the start-up program “HAE Accelerator”, presented by the BioRN Leading Cluster in Heidelberg on September 25 and sponsored by the Federal Ministry of Science.

With their idea for an innovative cardiac therapy, the InoCard team prevailed over eight start-ups from Germany, Austria and Great Britain. These had been chosen previously during a business plan competition of the Health Axis Europe (HAE) and had been invited to Heidelberg.    

In addition to InoCard, the business concepts of the English start-up Novolytics and the German-Swiss team Cogitars were distinguished with the HAE Investors’ Choice Award 2013. Novolytics has developed a novel therapy for antibiotic-resistant bacteria, while Cogitars supports pharmaceutical and biotech companies with new statistical procedures in the clinical development of new medicinal products.

During a 4-day summer camp in Heidelberg all participants had prepared for the investors’ day and worked together on their company presentations. Talks by experts and experienced company founders, such as Gitte Neubauer (Cellzome) and Claus Kremoser (Phenex Pharmaceuticals), rounded out the program organized by BioRN Network. 

About Cogitars  

Cogitars GmbH was founded in 2013 by Oliver Schönborn-Kellenberger and Simon Wandel. The main focus of the company is on statistical support for Bayesian trials and evidence synthesis, ranging from technical implementation to protocol writing and negotation with regulators. Cogitars has specific expertise in the field provided by its co-founders and, where required, works with a network of international experts to provide best solutions to its customers. Cogitars has its headquarters in Wangen (BE.)